A first British success in this race since 2004 with PROMISING LEAD justifying favouritism under a polished ride. This race only became a Group 1 in 2001 and Sir Michael Stoute's winner of the Group 3 Middleton Stakes at York on her first start back last month deserved her big-race success.

After all, she was only denied a head in the Group 1 Prix de L'Opera in October but as her trainer remarked afterwards, “She's a big scopey progressive filly who is really now coming to herself.” Always travelling in behind as Ballydoyle's Ice Queen established a sizeable advantage at halfway, the winner narrowed the deficit to lead after passing the 2f pole and then shrugged off her only serious threat Mad About You entering the final furlong. She looks a filly who can add to this victory and the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood was nominated as her next target, with the Yorkshire Oaks likely to figure also in future plans.

Mad About You, promoted from third to second in the Boylesports Irish 1,000 Guineas, was well fancied to play a prominent role after underfoot conditions seemed to come in her favour. She closed the gap but never got on terms with the winner approaching the final furlong pole. Despite running her heart out, the winner always had the upper hand and it showed inside the final furlong when the overseas challenger gradually extended her advantage again.

The progressive Anna Pavlova never got in a blow in the Coronation Cup at Epsom but these easier underfoot condition were encouraging. However, she was outclassed by the two principals although this was a step up on her Epsom display nonetheless.

The same could be said of She's Our Mark, who earned the biggest win of her career in theGroup 3 Desmond Stakes at Leopardstown last August.

Ice Queen set a strong gallop up front but once headed by the eventual winner started to back-pedal quickly, while stable companion Sail, well supported in the ring beforehand, was stone lastbefore the race began to take shape. She made some late headway but was then eased when her rider accepted the situation on this dead ground.

Marjalina, stable companion of the fourth, has failed to build on her two initial wins in testing ground when she looked a decent sort, especially when taking the Group 3 Park Express Stakes. This was another disappointing display performance.

Finsceal Beo, the only previous Group 1 winner in the line-up, was stepping back up in distance following herrun at Royal Ascot when she finished third in the Queen Anne Stakes over 1m. She was struggling to make much impression after turning for home and her rider accepted the situation inside the final furlong. She was later found to be clinically abnormal post race by the Turf Club veterinary officer, which came as no surprise following this below-par display. [BF]

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